Mumtaz Mahal Born Arjumand Banu Begum, Mumtaz Mahal was the wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. (more) 12 Extraordinary Women in the Mughal Empire Written by Gitanjali Roy Gitanjali Roy is senior editor, Encyclopaedia Britannica. She has over two decades of editorial experience across digital and broadcast media. Gitanjali Roy Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Mar. 4, 2026 •History The women in the Mughal court have largely been obscured in popular narratives by the exploits of the male rulers, and yet they often played crucial roles in both the private and public lives of the emperors. Their destinies mirrored the changing dynamics of the Mughal dynasty: the uncertain years of Babur’s empire building, the gilded age of Akbar, and Aurangzeb’s bitter war of succession. The women survived reversals of fortune, adapted to altered circumstances,...

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